NCAA Preview 2011: No. 6 Maryland

When first-year Maryland head coach John Tillman thinks about the 2010 Terrapins team, he doesn’t see a squad in need of massive change a year later.

“It wasn’t really broken, it was more like let’s tweak it,” says Tillman, who was hired last June to replace Dave Cottle, the long-time coach who in nine seasons went to the NCAA tournament eight times, won more than 60 percent of his games, and won two ACC championships at Maryland.

The move was a significant one for Tillman in that he left a less-discussed Harvard Crimson team to join take the lead of a premiere program in the most dominant conference in DI — one that reached the quarterfinals and finished 12-4 a season ago.

“They were so close last year that I didn’t want to overhaul it and have guys overreacting, were over thinking plays, and not playing instinctive,” says Tillman, who brought with him from Harvard defensive coordinator Kevin Warne.

“We said and let’s take some feedback from the guys who we feel are dedicated and really care about the program, and if we tweak it and infuse some energy and emphasize some different things, we might be able to get the team where we want it to go.”

Strategic Management

The Terps have a stock of skilled veterans all over the field, including several seniors who have long been the face of Maryland lacrosse since their arrival. Tillman said that the last thing he and Warne wanted to do was to cramp the style of a team with the 14th best offense (11.31) and 9th best defense a year ago (8.38 GAA), and many key players returning for the upcoming campaign.

“We’ve tried to adjust to the players, but still stress the things that we value,” Tillman says. “But we don’t want to turn all of our older guys into freshman.”

His players noticed, and because of his consideration, they players are grateful, already taking a strong liking to the affable Tillman.

“He knew about the Maryland tradition, and knew what we’ve been doing on offense and defense, pushing it in transition,” says senior middie Dan Burns. “He’s real into our transition game, gives us a lot of freedom, which (Brian) Farrell and I love because you get guys telling you to slow down, and he just wants us to attack and make the smart decision from there.”

While respecting the dedication of the players, Tillman says that, as a new coach, he’s tried to create a tight-knit atmosphere by bonding with the players and the coaching staff at early morning workouts and other activities.

To further engage his team, Tillman brought in Eric Kapitulik, a former Navy lacrosse player and leadership development program specifically for athletes. These overall efforts, he says, are intended to help make the small mindset changes that he says can go a long way, on and off the field.

“This is about their experience, their development, and their four years to lead this program,” he says. “And I want them to take part of that. If they take ownership of this with me, we’re all going to do it together. They’ll be able to help lead the teams through tough times when I can’t call timeout or when I am not around. We want guys to say this is who we are, and this is what we do. … We are trying to create leaders.”

Building Up & Breaking Out

Returning three starting attackman who racked up a collective 141 points in 2010, and bringing back another 70+ points at the midfield, Maryland has provided Tillman all the tools for a highly productive offense this season.

Senior Grant Catalino (34G, 20A) comes in as a preseason first-team All-American after a summer of playing box in the OLA on Six Nations. Tillman says that not only did the experience help his shooting, but also his dodging, confidence, and leadership on offense.

“By going up there, I try to gain the most knowledge of the game so I can come back and be a leader on the field and in practice, and share my knowledge with my teammates to help them get better,” Catalino says.

Senior Ryan Young (18G, 30A), the Terps highly-accomplished QB and a preseason third-team All-American, and the crafty Travis Reed, a great shooter and finisher, help form a powerful trio ranked as the fourth-best unit coming into the season.

“We work harder every day in practice to get where we want to go,” Catalino says. “We get better every single day. The more focused guys are in practice, and the more committed they are on and off the field, the better chance we have of meeting those expectations.”

The Maryland midfield, which boasts a mix of veteran and young players, shined in the Terps preseason scrimmage against Syracuse. Junior Joe Cummings, who scored three goals against Syracuse in various fashion, is the leading midfield scorer returning this season, and junior Jake Bernhardt (11G, 3A, .484 FO%) takes draws and plays any role necessary.

Cummings, Jake Bernhardt and Burns (2G, 5A) form the root of the midfield, but they’re surrounded by a host of other rapidly improving players, including junior Mike Shakespeare (5G) and sophomores John Haus (12G, 4A), Owen Blye (4G, 2A), and Kevin Cooper, and several others. Each player brings something different to the field, and there are several who can play into the Terps’ preference for the big-little mismatch game.

“We have so many different types of midfielders: two way middies, converted attackman, great time and room shooters,” says Burns, who was selected in the Major League Lacrosse draft along with four other Terps in Catalino, Young and redshirt senior LSM Brian Farrell.

Farrell (6G, 6A, 53GB), who in the preseason has been nursing an undisclosed injury and is expected back early in the season, will headline a feared defense upon his return. At the Syracuse scrimmage, senior cover defender Max Schmidt, a starter in 2010 with 39 GB, was also sitting out with an undisclosed injury. He too is expected back at some point this spring.

While awaiting Farrell’s and Max Schmidt’s return, the Terps expect seniors Brett Schmidt (36GB), Ryder Bohlander (30GB) and Shane Hall, and reliable sophomore Jesse Bernhardt (34GB), to take on more responsibilities. In goal, redshirt freshman Nike Amato held a slight advantage in the preseason, getting the start over junior Mark White against Syracuse. White appeared in 6 games last season, while Amato has yet to see the field in an actual game, though his coach was impressed with him after the Syracuse scrimmage.

And with so much pressure being placed upon the players by themselves and teammates, some Terps have decided to worry not about the expectations of the outside world.

“Coaches, parents, alumni — those are the only people we need to care about during the season,” Burns says. “Everything else is going to change, but those are the same people that will be there every day. We just try to focus on coming out every day and playing for the guy next for you and the

Marking the Calendar

For an upbeat Tillman, entering the ACC is as exhilarating as might be for a player. The rigorous schedule, he says, adds to the pressure and preparation that goes into each week.
“If you just look at the ACC, there’s only four (teams),” he says. “It’s all meat. There’s no filler. So those games are super exciting. They’re the games everyone talks about. They’re the elite players in the country. It takes a lot of preparation. As a coach, you feel like you’ve got to have a pulse on everything you’re doing because, if you miss anything, people will make you pay for it. You put a lot of pressure on yourself to make sure you’re prepared.”

Tillman’s recipe for success in the ACC provides an idea of the challenges faced not only for the first-year Terps coach, but any in the conference that landed all four of its team in the preseason top 10.

“I think you have to stay healthy, you’ve got to do the little things, and you’ve got to be consistent,” he says. “Any time you get complacent, you can be vulnerable. If you don’t have the right mindset, and if you don’t try to get better, you can be had.”